Fri.May 30, 2025

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UAE Businesswoman to Lead UN Tourism

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The election is important in determining who will lead the strategic direction of global tourism governance for the next four years.

Tourism 303
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Hyatt Announces Unscripted by Hyatt, a New Upscale Collection Brand

Lodging

CHICAGO, IllinoisHyatt Hotels Corporation announced Unscripted by Hyatt, the newest brand in its growing Essentials portfolio. Unscripted by Hyatt hotels will bring to life a flexible, collection-style approach where each property reflects its own identity and local flavor yet retains Hyatt’s standards in quality and care. Positioned in the upscale segment, the Unscripted by Hyatt brand fills a space in Hyatts portfolio and is designed to unlock growth through adaptive reuse and conversion

Branding 254
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Can AI Change Travel Without Sacrificing Trust? Insights from Amadeus’ Head of Research

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Rodrigo Acuna Agost of Amadeus explains how AI is shaping the future of travel while building trust through responsible data practices.

Travel 259
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Hilton New York Fashion District Unveils Renovation Inspired by Designer Studios

Lodging

NEW YORKThe Hilton New York Fashion District has unveiled a new look as part of extensive property-wide renovations. Located in the heart of Manhattans Fashion District, the redesign of this 280-room hotel drew inspiration from the creative energy of a designers working studio. “We designed every detail of this renovation with our guests in mind those who come to New York to be inspired, energized, and connected to the citys cultural pulse, said Joseph […] The post Hilton New York F

Hotels 162
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Smart Tools & Strong Teams: A People-First Approach to AI in Sales

Speaker: Matt Sunshine, CEO at The Center for Sales Strategy

AI isn’t replacing salespeople—it’s empowering them. The most forward-thinking sales organizations are using AI to enhance human performance rather than eliminate it. From coaching and messaging to prospecting and pipeline accountability, artificial intelligence is giving managers and SDRs the new tools they need to work smarter, sell better, and close more.

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Summer Travel's Winners: Japan, Live Tourism, and Biz Travel

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Despite talk of financial pressure, many are continuing to spend on summer travel.

Travel 213
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All Eyes on Operating Costs: Lessons Learned in 2024 and Cost-Control Advice for 2025 

Lodging

Hotel profit margin, which measures profits as a percent of revenue, is considered a good indicator of the efficiency of hotel operations. In 2023 and 2024, hotel profit margins at both the gross operating profit (GOP) and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) levels have declined, indicating that both operating and ownership expenses have increased at a greater pace than revenues.

More Trending

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CoStar: U.S. Hotel Industry Continues to Report Mixed Yearly Comparisons

Lodging

ARLINGTON, VirginiaThe U.S. hotel industry reported mixed year-over-year comparisons, according toCoStars latest data through May 24. U.S. Hotel PerformanceMay 18 – May 24, 2025Percentage change from comparable week in 2024Occupancy: 67.5% (down 0.4 percent)ADR: $164.57 (up 1.5 percent)RevPAR: $111.02 (up 1.1 percent) Demand for the Friday and Saturday of Memorial Day weekend was the third highest on record, behind 2022 and 2019.

Occupancy 162
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HiJiffy Launches a New Type of Hotel Chatbot with Unlimited Knowledge and Instant Updates

Hotel Speak

HiJiffy has launched Aplysia 3, a new type of chatbot powered by Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) technology, enabling hotels to deliver accurate, context-aware responses across unlimited topics – without relying on rigid FAQs. Quick to deploy, simple to update Hotel teams can easily input their information into two editable documents: a shared Company Knowledge Document and a Property Knowledge Document for each hotel.

Intent 91
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IHG’s Conversion-Friendly Brands Fuel Growth

Lodging

ATLANTA, GeorgiaIHG Hotels & Resorts(IHG) has seen a steady increase in conversion activity in recent years, with its total global conversion signings nearly doubling between 2023 and 2024. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, conversions accounted for around 60 percent of global openings and 40 percent of global signings for IHG. Jolyon Bulley, chief executive officer, Americas at IHG, said,“Owners growing interest in converting hotels to IHG brands signals that they continue to see [&

Branding 162
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Juan Corvinos named Hotel Equities CALA president

Hotel Business

Hotel Equities (HE) has appointed hospitality industry veteran Juan Corvinos as president of the Caribbean & Latin America (CALA) division. Corvinos joins Hotel Equities following more than 15 years with Hilton, where he most recently served as SVP, development, architecture, design & construction for Latin America and the Caribbean. He was instrumental in tripling Hiltons footprint in the region and launching brands such as All-Inclusive by Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Conrad, LXR, Curio, C

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How to Coach Reps on Overcoming Sales Objections with Confidence

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Global Sales and David Phelan, Account Executive

In a world where buyers are more informed and objections are more nuanced, confidence isn't optional—it’s a competitive advantage. In high-stakes conversations, knowing how to handle pushback can make or break the deal. Join industry experts Brendan Sweeney and David Phelan for a behind-the-scenes look at how teams are transforming sales coaching with real-time feedback, objection-handling role plays, and pre-call preparation that actually sticks.

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The Trail Hotel Officially Opens in Bardstown, Kentucky

Lodging

BARDSTOWN, KentuckyThe Trail Hotel, the worlds first bourbon-infused luxury hotel, is now welcoming guests in Bardstown, Kentucky. The 95-room hotel invites guests to experience Kentuckys renowned Bourbon country with interactive bourbon experiences. The property includes eight signature suites, a four-star dining experience, five distinct bars, and an array of modern wellness amenities, and it is located steps away from the Kentucky Bourbon Trail.

Dining 147
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Guests Expectations in 2025: A Complete Guide on How to Engage Travelers

Refine

As time passes and technology keeps evolving, we enter into a new era of guest expectations. As we've said before, it's no longer enough to meet their needs simply, the challenge now lies in exceeding them. What they wanted three years ago is not the same as what they want today or what they will The post Guests Expectations in 2025: A Complete Guide on How to Engage Travelers appeared first on Revfine.com.

Travel 95
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Hotel Wren Opens in Twentynine Palms

Lodging

TWENTYNINE PALMS, CaliforniaHotel Wren, a reimagined 1940s roadside motel, is now open in Twentynine Palms at the gateway to Joshua Trees north entrance. The 12-room property, designed byJessica Pell, founder of Los Angeles-basedManola Studio, is located just 10 minutes from Joshua Tree National Park. A Love Letter to the Desert “Hotel Wren is my love letter to the desert, a place that still re-centers me every time I return, says Jessica Pell, founder of Manola […] The post Hotel Wr

Motels 147
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Sage Hospitality adds three CL Hotels properties to portfolio

Hotel Business

Sage Hospitality Group has formed a strategic partnership with hotel ownership and investment group CL Hotels , which brings three lifestyle hotels into the Sage management portfolio: Hotel La Jolla in San Diego, The Coachman Hotel in Lake Tahoe and Circa 39 Hotel in Miami Beach. This partnership marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration between the two organizations.

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New Research-Backed Strategies to Empower Managers as Culture & Engagement Leaders

Speaker: Beth Sunshine, SVP, Up Your Culture

When culture isn’t consistently lived out across the organization, engagement suffers—and it often starts with a disconnect at the top. In this session, Beth Sunshine, SVP of Up Your Culture at The Center for Sales Strategy, will reveal how HR and executive leaders can close the gap between vision and execution by equipping frontline and mid-level managers to become culture carriers.

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Berkadia Negotiates Sale of Freepoint Hotel Cambridge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton

Lodging

CAMBRIDGE, MassachusettsBerkadia announced the successful sale of the 121-room Freepoint Hotel Cambridge, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Managing Director Denny Meikleham and Associate Director John Kluh of Berkadia Hotels & Hospitality led the transaction on behalf of the seller, Dune Real Estate Partners. The hotel was acquired by Jignesh Patel and Robins Patel of JNR Management Inc.

Sales 147
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Hyatt Launches 'Unscripted' – Soft Brand for Upscale Indie Hotels: Exclusive

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Hyatt's latest soft brand will enable independent hotels to join the group's loyalty program and get access to its booking system while keeping their local character.

Branding 165
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Unifocus Launches XiQ Solution to Better Measure Guest Feedback

Lodging

DALLAS, TexasUnifocus announced the launch of Unifocus XiQ, a newly redesigned experience intelligence solution that gives hotel teams full control over capturing and acting on guest feedback in real time. Unifocus XiQ (ExperienceIQ) begins with guest experience surveys, using data to enable hospitality leaders to create and manage guest feedback, gather post-stay insights, and track satisfaction trends across departments and properties. “XiQ is more than a survey tool, said Karie Kelly, c

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Yatra Leans Hard into Business Travel, Plans Co-Branded Corporate Card

Skift Blog

Skift Take: After some time chasing the consumer travel market with limited payoff, Yatra is seeing results with a focus on corporate travel.

Travel 165
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Welcome to the Future of Hospitality: Smart Rooms Start Here

Speaker: Jady West, VP of Hospitality & Chris Bennett, Head of Sales & Engineering

The modern hotel room is no longer just a place to stay—it’s an experience to remember. Today’s guests expect seamless 5G connectivity, personalized comfort, and high-tech convenience. From AI-powered smart room controls to in-room entertainment and app-based services, technology is redefining hospitality from the inside out. In this new session featuring industry pros Jady West and Chris Bennett, we’ll explore how high-speed, high-bandwidth connectivity powers the innovations that are enabling

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Hyatt launches upscale Unscripted by Hyatt brand

Hotel Business

Hyatt Hotels Corporation has unveiled Unscripted by Hyatt, the newest brand in its Essentials portfolio. Positioned in the upscale segment, the Unscripted by Hyatt brand fills a key white space in Hyatts portfolio and is designed to unlock growth through adaptive reuse and conversion-friendly opportunities, according to the company. With more than 40 hotels globally in active discussions to join the brand, Unscripted by Hyatt offers independent properties and small portfolios a light-touch opera

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What’s Next for Short-Term Rentals: Regulations, Airbnb, AI – Skift Travel Podcast

Skift Blog

Skift Take: The evolution of the short-term industry shows no signs of slowing down, and we examine how trends in travel and tech will impact the sector.

Travel 147
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River Retreat Kananaskis

Webrezpro

Enjoy a peaceful visit at River Retreat Kananaskis in Longview, Alberta. Surrounded by the Canadian Rockies, this property has easy access to fishing, horseback riding, and hiking experiences. Whether youre on a corporate retreat or wellness excursion, the natural beauty will take your breath away. River Retreat Kananaskis has chosen our cloud-based WebRezPro Property Management […] The post River Retreat Kananaskis appeared first on WebRezPro.

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Hawai’i Hospitality Group launched

Hotel Business

Hospitality veterans Elliot Mills and Jerry Gibson have launched Hawai’i Hospitality Group (HHG), an asset management firm headquartered in the state and focused on hotel, resort and tourism-aligned real estate across the Islands. We created HHG to fill a gapto bring leadership that understands both the culture and complexity of hospitality in Hawaii, said Mills, CEO, HHG.

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State of AI in Sales & Marketing 2025

AI adoption is reshaping sales and marketing. But is it delivering real results? We surveyed 1,000+ GTM professionals to find out. The data is clear: AI users report 47% higher productivity and an average of 12 hours saved per week. But leaders say mainstream AI tools still fall short on accuracy and business impact. Download the full report today to see how AI is being used — and where go-to-market professionals think there are gaps and opportunities.

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Submit Now: Win Big at Skift Global Forum with the IDEA Awards

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Enter the 2025 Skift IDEA Awards for your chance to win a physical trophy, complimentary ticket, on-stage photo with Skifts founder, plus recognition on Travels biggest stage at Skift Global Forum in New York City.

Travel 130
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Scott Harrell joins PM Hotel Group

Hotel Business

PM Hotel Group has appointed Scott Harrell as VP, development, feasibility & analytics. He brings nearly 25 years of experience in commercial real estate and hospitality investment to the organization, including evaluating and executing high-value transactions and conducting market analysis. Scotts depth of experience in investment strategy, valuation and deal execution across the hospitality sector positions him as a strong addition to our team, said Paul Sacco, chief growth and development

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United and JetBlue, Viator and Airbnb, and IATA and Big Airline Fears

Skift Blog

Skift Take: Todays podcast talks about a new partnership between United and JetBlue, a possible partnership between Viator and Airbnb, and the big worries of a big airline executive.

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Waterford adds hotels in Atlanta and Cleveland markets

Hotel Business

Waterford Hotel Group has been appointed as the operator for two hotels in new suburban markets for the company: the Courtyard Atlanta Norcross Peachtree Corners in Georgia and the Embassy Suites Cleveland Beachwood in Ohio. The Courtyard Atlanta Norcross Peachtree Corners, a 131-room hotel located just northeast of Atlanta, features the Bistro, flexible meeting space, a 24-hour fitness center and a seasonal outdoor pool.

Market 59
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Don't Let AI Pass You By: The New Era of Personalized Sales Coaching & Development

Speaker: Brendan Sweeney, VP of Sales & Devyn Blume, Sr. Account Executive

Are you curious about how artificial intelligence is reshaping sales coaching, learning, and development? Join Brendan Sweeney and Devyn Blume of Allego for an engaging new webinar exploring AI's transformative role in sales coaching and performance improvement! Brendan and Devyn will share actionable insights and strategies for integrating AI into coaching and development - ensuring personalized, effective, and scalable training!

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Gaylord Hotels debuts in California

Hotel Designs

Hotel Designs Gaylord Hotels debuts in California Gaylord Hotels debuts in California Strengthening Marriotts group and convention offerings, Gaylord Hotels and Marriott International have announced the opening of Gaylord Pacific Resort & Convention Center, the first-ever Gaylord Hotels property in California and the sixth in the brands portfolio… As the first Gaylord Hotels property to open since the 2018 premiere of Gaylord Rockies Resort in Colorado, Gaylord Pacific is setting a new

Hotels 101
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May: Bank on Bank Holidays

In1solutions

Summer is here! And if you’re based in Ireland like the majority of our team, that means there are a host of Bank Holidays on the horizon. The May Bank Holiday saw a huge spike in gift card sales and we’re expecting the same trend to continue as customers look for ways to meaningfully spend the upcoming June and August Bank Holidays. Ensure your gifting platform is ready by offering a selection of eclectic experiences that lean into quality time for friends, couples, and families.

Retail 40
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What Google’s New AI Tools Mean for Hotel Marketing

Hotel Speak

Google has long made it clear that it doesnt want to just help users search it wants to help them find answers. Its latest round of updates in Search and Maps, powered by generative AI, further help to fulfil Google’s aim of giving users what they want with as little friction as possible. This evolution has major implications for how travellers plan tripsand, in turn, how hotels are discovered, compared, and chosen.

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Three Ducks Hotel – a boutique hotel rooted in nature and authenticity

Hotel Designs

Hotel Designs Three Ducks Hotel – a boutique hotel rooted in nature and authenticity Three Ducks Hotel – a boutique hotel rooted in nature and authenticity The Three Ducks Hotel, a boutique hotel managed by FIRM Hospitality Group, has opened in Westhampton, introducing a lighthearted yet elevated approach to luxury… A collaboration between designer-developers Elizabeth Bakhash and Randall Stone of Three Ducks Hospitality , the debut Three Ducks boutique hotel introduces a desig

Hotels 59
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The GTM Intelligence Era: ZoomInfo 2025 Customer Impact Report

ZoomInfo customers aren’t just selling — they’re winning. Revenue teams using our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform grew pipeline by 32%, increased deal sizes by 40%, and booked 55% more meetings. Download this report to see what 11,000+ customers say about our Go-To-Market Intelligence platform and how it impacts their bottom line. The data speaks for itself!